SABBATICAL LEAVE INFORMATION PACKET 2020 - 2021 Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs - Stetson ...
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Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs
2020 – 2021
SABBATICAL LEAVE
INFORMATION PACKETBackground
The core focus of Stetson University’s mission is learning and the priority is the creation of a stimulating, inclusive
learning community that encourages a lifelong commitment to learning. Stetson’s faculty inspire and model this
commitment through the Teacher-Scholar Role. The teacher-scholar model emphasizes the integration of the
faculty role as educator, scholar, citizen, and leader, as expressed by Ernest Boyer’s pivotal work, Scholarship
Reconsidered: Priorities of the professoriate. It is through the integration of teachers’ facilitation of student
learning and scholars’ continuous intellectual and creative inquiry that a learning community comes alive and
thrives. It is also through continuous engagement in scholarly and creative inquiry that teacher-scholar faculty
continue their learning and thereby cultivate a culture of lifelong learning – at Stetson University and in society.
When teacher-scholar faculty are engaged with disciplinary and interdisciplinary professional networks,
participating in the generative peer review process, and networking with colleagues near and far, this engagement
expands their learning, scholarship, and professional impact. These rich professional networks further expand the
learning of teacher-scholar faculty, and open new opportunities and resources to faculty and through faculty to
their current and former students. Through scholarly and creative engagement and contribution, teacher-scholar
faculty communicate externally the mission and vibrancy of the University intellectual community. This helps
attract strong prospective students and faculty that will in turn help further the strength of the University into the
future and attracts new opportunities and resources.
The Sabbatical
Stetson University supports sabbatical leaves for its tenured faculty. The purpose of a sabbatical is to promote
teacher-scholar professional development of faculty within the applicant’s discipline.
Tenured faculty members are eligible for a sabbatical leave after each six (6) year period of service at Stetson and
may apply during the sixth year (or the sixth full year after the end of the academic year of the last sabbatical). The
leave may be for one semester at full salary or for the academic year at half salary. Credit toward tenure does not
affect the minimum requirement of six (6) years of service at Stetson. Tenured faculty who receive credit toward
tenure from a non-tenure track position at Stetson may request that their correlated service be considered when
determining eligibility, as long as those years were credited when the tenure-track appointment was made.
Faculty are eligible to apply now for a sabbatical during AY 2020-2021 if either (a) they have never had a
sabbatical, began teaching at Stetson no later than Fall 2014, and have been teaching full-time since that date,
or (b) their most recent sabbatical leave ended in May 2014 or earlier and they have been since teaching full-
time.
In reviewing the value of a proposal for advancing teacher-scholar development, the Committee considers department
chair and dean evaluations and recommendations carefully. Applicants should alert their department chair (and, if
appropriate, their dean) to their intention to apply for a sabbatical. They are also strongly encouraged to discuss the
merits and quality of the proposed project, and its relation to their ongoing professional development. Chairs/deans
should provide feedback, including any reservations they might have about the quality or potential competitiveness
of the proposed project, with the applicant.
Sabbatical leave may be combined with an external source of funding, like the Fulbright or an NEH research grant,
and Stetson University’s membership in the NYU Faculty Resource Network affords semester and year-long Scholar-
In-Residence opportunities in New York. Applicants may wish to describe alternative plans for the sabbatical, with
and without external funding. Sabbatical leave may also be combined with a summer grant during the summer
preceding or following the sabbatical period, but not both summers bordering the sabbatical period.
Unless approved by the Provost as part of the sabbatical application, a tenured faculty member who is granted a
sabbatical leave will be required to commit, before the sabbatical begins, to return to full-time teaching for at least
one academic year (fall and spring) following the end of the sabbatical leave.
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Stetson University Sabbatical Leave – (Revised: 8/28/19)Sabbatical Leave Application Procedures
Applicants for a sabbatical leave should follow the steps indicated below. Items 1 – 4 should be prepared in one
document (PDF or Word format), following the outlined word limits for each section.
1. Develop a project title and description of the activities proposed for the sabbatical leave, using a style
that is consistent with the generally accepted canons of the discipline. Successful applicants usually
address such topics as background, purpose, objectives, plan of activities, anticipated results and how
the proposed project breaks new ground. It is expected that a proposal for a full-year leave will
describe a set of activities appropriate to the extended time frame in which the applicant will be
working. Sabbatical leave projects are expected to reach some definite outcome, although the
committee recognizes that they will not necessarily be completed within the period of the sabbatical
leave. The description, not to exceed 1200 words, should be written so that it can be understood by
faculty from other disciplines.
Note: If the applicant plans also to apply for a summer grant, the scope and goals of the activities
proposed in each application must be different, although they may address different parts of the same
larger project. Each application will be judged on its own merits.
2. Develop a narrative that discusses applicant’s qualifications to undertake and complete the proposed
project (about 250 words), including previous work related to the project that shows how the project is
related to the applicant’s professional growth as a teacher-scholar/artist/performer.
3. Develop a statement of the anticipated impact of the proposed project on the applicant’s professional
growth and on the University (about 250 words).
4. Develop a statement summarizing the activities and results of previous leaves. Failure to report on
previous sabbatical leaves or inappropriate changes to awarded sabbaticals may disqualify future
applications.
5. Prepare a current curriculum vitae.
6. Complete the online Sabbatical Leave Application Form, submitting the documents prepared as above in
the appropriate parts of the form. This will entail an upload of two documents:
➢ Sabbatical narrative proposal (items 1-4 above)
➢ Curriculum vitae
Successful applications and final reports on sabbatical projects will be posted in electronic format on a secure
Library web page.
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Stetson University Sabbatical Leave – (Revised: 8/28/19)Evaluation
A sabbatical will be granted only upon the strong demonstration of the strengths and merits of the proposal. The
Professional Development Committee evaluates only complete applications by considering the following factors, in
descending order of importance:
1. Scholarly Value: The value of the project within the discipline; its purpose and objectives; and the
likelihood of significant results.
2. Teacher-Scholar/Artist/Performer Development: Evidence that the proposal will advance the applicant’s
development as a teacher-scholar/artist/performer; how his/her continuous intellectual/creative
development through the sabbatical contributes to making the Stetson learning community thrive.
3. Project Scope: Description of the plan of activities to be undertaken for the project, including steps
and/or methodology and the suitability of the sabbatical period for the project as described.
4. Value to the University: Evidence that the proposal will extend the applicant’s expertise and bring
professional recognition to the University or enrich classroom teaching or have a significant impact on the
curriculum.
Completion
1. Successful Applicants must submit a brief electronic summary of their sabbatical activities to their Dean
and the Office of Faculty Engagement at associate.provost@stetson.edu by September 15, 2021. Final
reports will be posted in an electronic format on a secure Library web page.
2. Guidelines for reporting their work will be distributed to successful candidates after leaves have been
awarded.
3. Successful candidates will normally be expected to present the results of their leave to an appropriate
campus audience.
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Stetson University Sabbatical Leave – (Revised: 8/28/19)Submission Procedures and Calendar for Sabbatical Leaves 2020-2021
Applicants, chairs, and deans must abide by the published schedule.
All application materials must be received by the respective parties on or before the published dates.
2019
Tuesday, October 1
On or before this date the applicant will notify the department chair and the Office of the Provost and
Academic Affairs (via email to PDC@stetson.edu) of his/her intent to apply for a coming year sabbatical
and consult with the department chair to discuss the nature and viability of the proposed sabbatical. (If
the applicant is a department chair then the applicant should notify his/her dean.) The purpose of this
consultation is to receive feedback on the proposed sabbatical and guidance on changes that may
strengthen the final proposal.
Friday, October 11
Applicant who serves as Department Chair:
Faculty applicants who serve as department chairs are encouraged to designate a senior colleague to
provide an evaluation of the application; requests for that designation must by this date be directed to
the associate dean, who will confirm the designation with the proposed evaluator. In lieu of the
designation of a colleague, the associate dean will provide the evaluation.
Monday, October 14
Applicant:
Complete the online application, which requires uploading your proposal and current curriculum
vitae.
Applicants will receive an email confirmation that the application has been received. Application
materials will be forwarded to the appropriate department chair or designated senior colleague /
associate dean.
Monday, October 21
Department Chair (or designated senior colleague or Associate Dean):
Forward to PDC@stetson.edu an electronic copy of your written evaluation in Word format. The
evaluation should candidly assess the scholarly value of the project, the scope of the project, its value to
the University, and the relevance of the project to the applicant’s ongoing development as a member of
the Stetson faculty. The evaluation should be discussed with the applicant. The Chair must provide an
explicit plan for covering the teaching and other responsibilities of the applicant during the term of the
sabbatical. (Retain copies for your files as appropriate.)
Department chairs / designated senior colleagues / associate deans will receive an email confirmation
that the evaluation has been received. Application and evaluation materials will be forwarded to the
appropriate dean.
Monday, November 11
Deans:
Forward to PDC@stetson.edu an electronic copy of your written comments in (PDF or Word format).
The comments should include an evaluation of the substance of the proposed project, and describe the
manner in which teaching and other responsibilities of the applicant will be met during the time of the
proposed leave. (Retain copies for your files as appropriate.)
Application and evaluation materials will be made available to the members of the Professional
Development Committee for consideration.
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Stetson University Sabbatical Leave – (Revised: 8/28/19)Submission Procedures and Calendar for Sabbatical Leaves 2020-2021
Applicants, chairs, and deans must abide by the published schedule.
All application materials must be received by the respective parties on or before the published dates
Friday, November 29
Professional Development Committee:
Submit electronic copies of recommendations (PDF or Word format), to the Office of Faculty
Engagement at associate.provost@stetson.edu.
Friday, December 6
Associate Provost:
Review the proposals and the committee recommendations and submit to the Provost.
Friday, December 13
Provost:
Notify candidates of final decision on their applications.
2020
Monday, January 6
Unsuccessful Applicants: Candidates whose sabbatical proposal is rejected by the committee have
the right to appeal to the Provost. The appeal is due via email to provost@stetson.edu on or before
January 6. The Provost will then render a final decision and notify each candidate of the outcome by
February 14, 2020.
2021
Wednesday, September 15
Successful Applicants: Must submit a summary of their sabbatical activities by September 15,
2021, to their Dean and the Office of Faculty Engagement at associate.provost@stetson.edu.
Final reports must be submitted electronically and will be posted in an electronic format on a
secure Library web page.
KEEP THESE PAGES FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
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Stetson University Sabbatical Leave – (Revised: 8/28/19)Professional Development Committee
Sabbatical Application Evaluation Rubric
Scale: 5 = Excellent, 4 = Very Good, 3 = Good, 2 = Fair, 1 = Poor
I. Scholarly Value. 5 4 3 2 1
A. Sufficient background provided so that project can be 5 4 3 2 1
judged within the context of the discipline.
B. Purpose and objectives of project clearly stated along with a 5 4 3 2 1
description of anticipated results.
II. Scope of Project. 5 4 3 2 1
A. Description of plan of activities, including steps and 5 4 3 2 1
time required to accomplish objectives and/or
methodology, and suitability of the sabbatical leave
period (semester vs. full year) for the project as
described.
III. Impact on Applicant’s Professional Growth/Value to University. 5 4 3 2 1
A. The proposed project extends the applicant’s expertise, brings 5 4 3 2 1
professional recognition to the University in wider academic or
non-academic community, enriches classroom teaching, and/or
has a significant impact on the curriculum.
B. The sabbatical project is likely to produce a substantial scholarly
5 4 3 2 1
or creative outcome
IV. Qualifications and Quality 5 4 3 2 1
A. Narrative of qualifications given, including applicant’s background
5 4 3 2 1
and previous related work if any.
B. Overall quality of application, including the clarity of expression. 5 4 3 2 1
C. Was a description of the activities and results from previous Yes No
leaves given in the application?
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Stetson University Sabbatical Leave – (Revised: 8/28/19)You can also read
